Wednesday, March 18, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 3
Local musician strikes chord
Brewery regular helps to draw loyal following
Just give Ted Connelly a guitar, a chair and a place to play and let him do the rest.
Connelly, a guitarist, songwriter and Lawrence resident, has been bringing his one-man show to the Brown Bear Breaking Company, 729 Massachusetts St., on Monday nights for the past two months.
By Tamara Miller
tmiller@kansan.com
worker, the musician had a knack for keeping a captive audience.
Jeremy Tawney, Brown Bear employee, said that whether Connelly was singing about rare hairloss diseases or the similarities between a rock star and a carnival
"Whenever we think we're going to have a big crowd, Ted's the first person we call because we like his music, and he likes to play," Tawney said.
of ideas," he said. "It's not your typical solo act. I'm just trying to create my own space."
One of Connellly's songs is about a rare hair disease called "Alopecia," which causes hair to fall out in
Connelly, former member of Acoustic Juice,
said he enjoyed the benefits of a solo career.
"There's more creative freedom in general," he
"My music is sort of a hodgepodge of ideas."
saan. "If I decide during a song to change something, I can do that without worrying about whether someone's going to follow."
Connelly said that he had played other local venues, but that the Brown Bear allowed him to establish a following where the songs were well-received, he said.
1525 West 6th
843-9922
Ted Connelly
Musician
spots, Connelly, who works at Sakaroff's The Salon, 12 E. Eighth St., said that he was inspired to write the song when
"My music is sort of a hodgepodge
he heard the term at work.
"I wrote it as a joke," he said. "I don't know if it's pronounced correctly or not."
Connely's favorite song, "Spinning," is a story about a rock star on a carnival ride. In the song, he talks about the similarities between a carnival worker and a rock star.
"It's a parallel between having someone captive in the ride and having a captive audience," he said. "I am the boy and the carnival worker."
Connelly said he planned to add drummer David Rvan to his set.
Ryan, Lawrence graduate, said the two would play together.
"I totally see that it's Ted's gig," he said. "I think he fits into the songwriting tradition of Lawrence."
Connelly said that adding another person to his set would not change the way he played.
"It will add some texture, but the
defend will still be there," he said.
"It will add some texture, but the freedom will still be there," he said. Ryan and Connelly already have played together on Connelly's demo tape. Connelly said that although he had sent tapes to record companies and had hoped to spend next year touring and recording, he tried to avoid making big plans because they never worked out.
Watkins' community legacy endures
By Lisa Stevens John
ljohn@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Through this century, the Lawrence medical community has taken giant strides. Much of this progress was achieved because of the help of one woman — Elizabeth Watkins.
Watkins knew of the dilapidation of Lawrence Memorial Hospital, a converted frame house at Third and Maine streets that had served as a hospital since 1921.
Local officials had done everything they could to make the hospital safe, but it still was termed a firetrap.
Early Lawrence mayor and former hospital board member Robert C. Rankin wrote that he was surprised when Watkins offered to give $200,000 for the construction of a new hospital.
it is not possible for me to describe my feelings when Mrs. Elizabeth Watkins came in." Rankin wrote. "She sat down and
informed me that she had come to offer to give the money to build a new hospital. I almost fell out of my chair."
A visionary in the field of health, Watkins' words still ring true.
"I feel that the future success of yourselves, as well as the future prosperity of the state, depends to a considerable extent on the proper care of your health," she said.
The new Lawrence Memorial Hospital opened Sept. 22, 1929. It was described as fireproof and modern in every respect. It had 52 beds. The first baby born there, on Sept. 27, was named Elizabeth in Watkins' honor.
Today, Lawrence Memorial Hospital has grown to 167 beds. A kidney dialysis clinic is located on the hospital grounds.
The hospital includes an intensive care unit, maternity care unit, a cardiac catheterization lab, emergency department, surgical suites, a one-day surgical unit, nuclear medicine, a CT scanner and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
capabilities.
The medical staff of Lawrence Memorial Hospital has more than 120 physicians.
Belinda Rehmer, public relations assistant in the hospital's community relations department, said the name of the hospital's first benefactress still is remembered.
"Our employee orientation includes a video that tells the history of Lawrence Memorial. It focuses on Elizabeth Watkins and explains that she donated the money to build the first hospital building." she said.
When Watkins donated the funds for the hospital building, she said she was following the wishes of her late husband, Jabez B. Watkins, a Lawrence businessman and banker who died in 1924.
Her generosity extended to the University of Kansas with the construction of Miller and Watkins Scholarship Halls, Watkins Memorial Hospital and a nurses' home. Upon her death, she bequeathed her home to be used as the chancellor's residence.
"The citizens of Lawrence owe a great debt of gratitude to Elizabeth Watkins."
Lawrence memorial Hospital CEO
Gene Mayer
Even today, her name lives on.
Even today, her name is "The citizens of Lawrence owe a great debt of gratitude to Elizabeth Watkins," said Gene Meyer, CEO and president of Lawrence Memorial Hospital. "Her generosity provided this community a first-rate hospital facility for its time. That's a legacy we are committed to upholding today and for the future."
Bohmgrood
"You can't mention health care in Lawrence without mentioning Elizabeth Watkins," she said.
Computer
RENAISSANCE
Rehmer agreed.
Most rapes happen on first or casual dates.
Have a SAFE Spring Break.
Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Program The Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center 115 Strong Hall,864-3552
There's still space available... in one of the finest nursing programs in the midwest!!
AVILA COLLEGE NURSING
- 100% of 1997 Avila nursing graduates are employed
* 95.8% pass rate by '97 graduates on Boards
- Producing quality nurses for 50 years
- Avila nurses always keep the dignity of the patient first in their minds
Avila College is conveniently located in south Kansas City, at 119th & Wornall Road; just south of I-435!!
Call (816)942-8400, Ext. 2271 for more info, or E-Mail us at FetschSH@mail.Avila.edu
325 Maine, Lawrence, KS 66044·(785)749-6100